Por (Geografer) on February 15, 2009 (Suggest removal)

Oh well - at least McKenna can take heart in the fact that Ramo will forever be the answer to the question on what goaltender did Green score the record breaking 8th straight goal by a defenseman? And not him.

Por (Bolts Rule !!) on February 15, 2009 (Suggest removal)

The bolts game was like watching a team with no heart. Once Washington got up on goals the bolts could not pass the puck to save their collective butts. The caps were good as usual, but the bolts have played alot better than this. There was a glimmer of hope but they did all they could to diminish any chance for post season action. The only way to have any shot, is win all of the rest. They probably can have about 4 losses, but this team just doesnt have the heart to win. Its sad, Me along with alot of other faithful season ticket holders paid alot of money to watch a team play, but tonight like many others the team that played hockey was the opponent.

Por (Bolt Fan) on February 15, 2009 (Suggest removal)

They started out very strong, but the mistakes killed them until they finally quit trying.  It seems like that happens more and more often.  There just isn’t a fight in these guys.  They seem to be conditioned to lose.  I wouldn’t mind the loss so much if they played competitively for sixty minutes.

Por (Christian) on February 15, 2009 (Suggest removal)

Terrible game, but did anyone think we were going to have a good chance of winning anyway? We’re missing our top pair of defenseman and left with a lot of guys who won’t be resigned this offseason, starting an ECHL goalie who’s looked shakey lately, and even slowpoke Malik was gone after the first period. I went to this one knowing we were probably gonna be smoked bad. On the bright side though, we got some help in the Tavares sweepstakes last night and now find ourselves 9 points out of last place in the league and 6 away from 2nd. It’s reverse playoffs, baby!

Por (Lightning Fan) on February 15, 2009 (Suggest removal)

If the bolts want to keep guys like Marty and Vinnie from “bolting” to other teams, this is not the way to do it.  Man, they must be frustrated playing on a team that gives 100% once every five games.  As much as I can’t stand the Senators, they were down 3-0 against the Wild and came back to win 5-3.  I don’t know what the answer is but it is so frustrating watching a team with all this fire power, fall short night after night.  Mathematically still in it for the playoffs, but what is the sense in backing in and getting knocked out four straight????

Por (Sue) on February 15, 2009 (Suggest removal)

The game was awful. We were in the lower section surrounded by Caps fans. What a disgrace. They were everywhere. You can’t tell me all these people came from the north. I am sick of seeing the other teams fans invade our arena.

Por (Geografer) on February 15, 2009 (Suggest removal)

Christian - even IF the Bolts finished last and IF they won the first pick why in the world would you want them to take Tavares? So you have Vinny, Stamkos and Tavares - all centers. This means someone is going to have to play 3rd line minutes. Who’s it going to be? Stamkos or Tavares - you would severely hamper their development. Vinny? You want to pay him how much to play the third line? No - the Bolts would take Hedman. Why? WE NEED D-MEN! The fact is I don’t see us finishing that low. If we were to get it I would trade down to 2nd as long as we knew the Isles wanted Tavares. If hope they end up 4 or 5th and take Cowen (D, 6’5”).

Por (LightningDogg) on February 15, 2009 (Suggest removal)

Granted I wasn’t there, I watched on TV, but I thought the effort was there. Shots were =, we had double the hits, won faceoffs, less shots missed etc. The only glaring difference was giveaways (we had twice as many). The Bolts haven’t been a good passing team all year and against the likes of Wash that is a recipe for failure. They capitalize on mistakes, plus they had a red hot goalie.
And what the heck is up with V4 on breakaways/penalty shots/shootouts this year? He can’t buy a goal!!

Por (LightningDogg) on February 15, 2009 (Suggest removal)

BTW Prospal missing a wide open net was ridiculous! He is gripping the stick so hard sawdust is falling out!!
Plus I thought Smaby played great.
And if Arty ever improves his puck handling at full speed ....look out!

Por (Derek H) on February 15, 2009 (Suggest removal)

What pisses me off is that we will probably destroy the Blackhawks tuesday, A marginal victory at best…points wise.

We need to destroy teams like the Caps, Canes, and Thrashers.

It boggles my mind.

Go bolts.

Por (Boltflasher) on February 15, 2009 (Suggest removal)

Hey, Geo,...the REAL flasher…agree, need a D man more than Tavares, if we get 1st pick maybe can talk to Leafs about Schenn and another player whereas I think TOR is lusting after Tavares they way MTL is about Vinny…

Por (Brittany) on February 15, 2009 (Suggest removal)

You just can’t beat one of the best teams in the league with 2 goalies who were playing in the AHL at the beginning of the year AND have your top 2 defensemen out. It just isn’t going to happen. That is what we saw last night. Our guys had chances, they just didn’t finish them. That was the difference.

Smaby played very well (except for the one bad pass he made). He knocks people on their butts and I love it.

Don’t know if anyone picks up the programs, but the new ones have a story about how Tocc has really turned things around for the team. Hopefully that is some foreshadowing for the off season, and they name him the official coach and give him a whole season to see what he can do.

Por (Bolt Fan) on February 15, 2009 (Suggest removal)

Geo, you are right about Tavares.  Besides, since Hunter got him in London to try to catch Windsor, Tavares has been hurt more than he’s played.  Seems that he is a bit injury prone.  The problem with drafting defensemen is that it usually takes some time to be ready to play in the big time.

The way these owners think, they will probably go for Tavares and there still won’t be any defense.

Por (Boltflasher) on February 15, 2009 (Suggest removal)

The Fourth Period reporting: “It’s also believed the likes of Jeff Halpern, Vaclav Prospal and Lukas Krajicek could be moved in the next couple of weeks, with the San Jose Sharks eyeing Halpern, and the Blue Jackets interested in Prospal.” Who wants Krajicek?...

Por (Bolt Fan) on February 15, 2009 (Suggest removal)

Nobody wants him.  That’s the problem.  Vancouver was lucky to send him to Tampa.

Por (Jay) on February 15, 2009 (Suggest removal)

Hey Bolts Fan aka Mike Joyce.  No body is wanting to run you out even if all us collectively tried.  You will just come back as someone else.  Why? you find affirmation in forums like this.  You want people to agree with your opinions and observations perhaps something that you never got when you were a younger.  You try as you might to demonstrate your knowledge and intelligence in this forum perhaps because work, home, family doesn’t or never gave a chance to do so or they always proved you wrong.  We do not expect you to go anywhere.  You say you are leaving but you will just come back as someone from W. Boise, FL.

Por (Bolt Fan) on February 15, 2009 (Suggest removal)

I don’t know what you are talking about.  Even more importantly, I don’t much care. 

I offer my opinion, for what it’s worth.

You might have run another off, but I will be here and will offer that opinio.  Whether or not you agree is your decision and not my problem in the slightest.

I feel sorry for whoever you ran off in the past, but can’t do anything about that.

Go Bolts.

Por (Christian) on February 16, 2009 (Suggest removal)

For the record, my “Seen Tavares?” joke was more of a figure of speech. Who around the league is calling it the Hedman Sweepstakes? My point was we’re on the road towards another high draft pick which can only be a good thing. Look at what it did for teams like Pittsburgh and Chicago. Now whether or not I think Lawton can have a successful draft is another issue.

And, no, I’m not excusing the season. I just prefer not to constantly look at the negative in life

Por (Bolt Fan) on February 16, 2009 (Suggest removal)

Look what the number one overall did for the Lightning last year.

Also, don’t forget that Joe Thornton was a number one overall and it took him a while to mature into the big dance.

Getting the number one overall doesn’t mean an instant change, like the Bolts had.

I do agree with trying to stay positive, but let’s also stay realistic.

Por (Jay) on February 16, 2009 (Suggest removal)

Hey Bolts Fan uggh Mike Joyce, if your math equates 2 years to a “while” then you are absolutely right.  Or is 2 years a “while” in Thai years. Other than his freshman year, Big Joe has never scored less than 41 pts which is only 5 pts less than what Halpern (your world beater) ever produced in one season his entire career.  Otherwise, once again, you are fairly inaccurate with your observation.

Por (Randy C) on February 16, 2009 (Suggest removal)

Jay, A quick point, Halpern was not a no. 1 pick and has always been a 2nd or 3rd line forechecking center, never known as a scorer. Thornton really did not show himself untill year 5, and has always been a playmaking center and a scorer. Less than one point a game is not what I would call acceptable for a no.1, scoring center.

Por (Jay) on February 16, 2009 (Suggest removal)

Randy, the point about Halpern was focused on a previous blog that Joyce does not think Commodore for Halpern was a fair trade when a stay at home D who can hit, join the rush, clear the front of the goal and knows how to relieve pressure is one on the Bolts glaring needs.  2nd, 3rd, 4th line centers come at a dime a dozen, solid D’s don’t.  On Thornton, does that mean the VL is not a worthy #1 overall scoring center since he was less than a pt a game until ‘06-‘07 season and has only been the 2 previous years.  Very unlikely that he will be one this year.

Por (Randy C) on February 16, 2009 (Suggest removal)

Jay, in that context, I’ll take Commodore or any top 3 D for Halpern because we need D so badly. On Vinny, in the cup year, he did not get the linemates (MSL) a lot like Brad had to go through last season. This year and last year he played hurt for long periods. I think Thornton had more around him consistantly, where Vinny has had to carry more weight individually.  Without looking, Vinny has played on teams with much worse records, and was still close to that point per game. So, yes, worth the pick, best still to come.

Por (Jay) on February 16, 2009 (Suggest removal)

Randy, in that context, points well taken.  Even 1st overalls as a rule require 2-3 yrs to develop unless your name is Gretzky or Crosby. Lemieux was not a point a game player until year 2.  Bonk and Daigle are another story. Both VL and JT had solid casts, VL had a very good GT and JT never did. In reality TBL had a very solid team in the Cup year.  Had Feaster managed well against the cap and drafted wisely, the Bolts could have been perenial contenders. Unfortunately he didn’t, hence we are where we are.

Por (Randy C) on February 16, 2009 (Suggest removal)

Jay, I would hope all remember that there was no cap when they built this team, and we lost a contract year and a season before the new “cap league” rules went into effect. Habby left without giving us a chance to negotiate and the Denis trade happened. Vinny resigned at 25% of the cap and then Marty, and Brad the next year and there was no money because of the cap to afford a goalie or to keep our guys. As much blame as Feaster gets, it is inaccurate to pin it on him. Actually got the chance to talk to Feaster while this happened and when the Richards trade was made. It has always irked me that he got all the blame, aside from the Denis trade, he really got screwed by the new CBA and Cap or thier plan to keep everyone would have worked.